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Rheological Evaluation of Short-

and Long-Term Performance for Warm


Mix Asphalt (WMA) Binders

Mohammed Sadeq, Eyad Masad, Hussain Al-Khalid, Okan Sirin


and Dallas Little

Abstract Warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additives are environmentally friendly and


cost-effective products that lower the viscosity of bituminous binders to allow
reduction of mixing and compaction temperatures in asphalt mix production. In this
study, two WMA additives were used; Sasobit® and Advera®. Both were mixed in
the lab with unmodified 60/70 Pen and modified PG 76-22 binders. Strain oscil-
lation and viscosity measurement tests were performed to determine the rheological
properties of the binder with and without WMA additives. Different ageing pro-
cesses were performed in this study; half and full short-term ageing using the
Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) procedure, and long-term ageing using
the Pressurized Ageing Vessel (PAV) procedure. Test results have shown that the
addition of Sasobit® increased the stiffness of both binders and changed PG grade
by one unit up (6 °C PG grade). Also, Sasobit® presented better rutting resistance
in modified and unmodified binders than Advera®, while both WMA additives
decreased the fatigue cracking resistance. Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR)
test was also conducted on both unaged and RTFO aged binders. Modified binder

M. Sadeq (&)
Centre for Engineering Sustainability, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
e-mail: mohammed.sadeq@liverpool.ac.uk; mohammed.sadeq@qatar.tamu.edu
M. Sadeq  E. Masad
Mechanical Engineering Program, Texas A&M University at Qatar, Doha, Qatar
e-mail: eyad.masad@qatar.tamu.edu
H. Al-Khalid
Centre for Engineering Sustainability, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, UK
e-mail: khalid@liverpool.ac.uk
O. Sirin
Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University,
Doha, Qatar
e-mail: okansirin@qu.edu.qa
D. Little
Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
e-mail: d-little@tamu.edu

© RILEM 2016 129


F. Canestrari and M.N. Partl (eds.), 8th RILEM International Symposium
on Testing and Characterization of Sustainable and Innovative Bituminous
Materials, RILEM Bookseries 11, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7342-3_11
130 M. Sadeq et al.

with Sasobit® and Advera® exhibited the same performance of the original binder
after complete short-term ageing. However, Sasobit® increased the potential of
rutting resistance in the unmodified binder more than Advera® did. The viscosity
measurements revealed that adding Sasobit® to modified or unmodified binders
lowered the viscosity more than Advera® did. These measures were considered as
preliminary data required for further studies on the effect of WMA additives on the
resistance of bituminous binders to fatigue cracking.

Keywords WMA  Sasobit  Advera  DSR  Ageing  RTFO  PAV  RV

1 Introduction

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technology was introduced by different European


countries in 1995 and has since attracted the attention of practitioners and
researchers. Numerous international organisations started producing WMA addi-
tives using different mechanisms. These additives were mixed with bituminous
binders to reduce mixing and compaction temperatures of asphalt mixtures.
Advantages of using WMA additives went further by lessening the fuel con-
sumption and smoke emission during construction. These advantages made this
technology an eco-friendly product and encouraged researchers to study the addi-
tives influence on pavement performance.
Warm mix asphalt (WMA) is a technology that allows a significant reduction in
the mixing and compaction temperatures compared to the temperature used in
hot-mix asphalt (HMA) production. Whilst this reduction should not jeopardise the
performance characteristics of the asphalt, it should lower the plant’s fuel con-
sumption by 10–35 %. This reduction favourably impacts the economic appraisal of
their adoption (Hurley and Prowell 2006). In addition, earlier research revealed that
harmful vaporous emissions may also be decreased by 15–70 % when using WMA
(D’Angelo et al. 2008). Reduction would help in attaining healthier and faster
paving.
Different manufacturing approaches were adopted in the production of current
WMA additives, such as an organic (wax), chemical and foaming varieties.
Typically, WMA additives are introduced in the mixing phase, which alters the
characteristic of the conventional HMA through binder viscosity reduction. This
chemical alteration process promotes an adequate binder coating over the aggre-
gates, thereby improving the mixture workability and compaction at lower tem-
peratures. This study was conducted to evaluate the ageing effect on the rheological
properties of bituminous binders mixed with WMA additives.
Using the technology of WMA additives with asphalt binders can be done in two
ways. Additives can be mixed with the binder at the conventional temperature as
Rheological Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Performance … 131

HMA, which would improve bitumen/aggregate coating and rutting resistance.


Alternatively, mixing the additives with the binder at lower temperature, which will
provide most of the WMA benefits by lowering the smoke emission and fuel
consumption for a better paving practice. In addition, it will reduce the effect of
ageing on the binder with using lower mixing temperature.

2 Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of this study are as follows:


• Evaluate the rheological properties of different WMA binders at high and
intermediate temperatures.
• Assess the effect of different ageing processes on WMA rutting and fatigue
behaviour.
The objectives are achieved by conducting rheological tests on binders mixed
with WMA additives. Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and Rotational Viscometer
(RV) were used to perform various tests on binders over a wide temperature range.
Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) and the Pressurized Ageing Vessel
(PAV) procedures were used for simulating short and long-term aging of binders,
respectively.

3 Testing Materials

3.1 Asphalt Binder

Bitumen is imported to Qatar for asphalt pavements from Kingdom of Bahrain.


Bitumen arrives as unmodified 60/70 Pen binder and then local companies modify
it to produce mostly modified PG 76-22 asphalt which is distributed to contractors
in Qatar for constructing of new roads. Unmodified 60/70 Pen binder still in use for
construction of local roads and lower pavement layers.

3.2 Advera

Advera® is aluminosilicate specialty zeolite free flowing white to grey powder


(100 % passing the 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve) produced by PQ Corporation in the
US. As shown in Fig. 1a such particle size would advantage the uniform destitution
of the particles within the asphalt mix. The manufacturer claims that adding
Advera® by 0.25 % of the asphalt mix (4.8–5.0 % by weight of the binder) can lower
132 M. Sadeq et al.

Fig. 1 a Advera® WMA additive acquired from PQ Corporation. b Sasobit® WMA additive
acquired from Sasol Company

the bitumen production temperature by 20–30 °C. Adding Advera® would never
change the design of asphalt mix. Advera® contains about 21 % of entrapped water
in particles crystalline structure which starts to emit at temperature over 100 °C.
The emitted water causes a sustained, time-release foaming of the asphalt binder.
The foaming process temporarily increases the workability and enhances aggregate
coating. Advera® is an inorganic material that does not change the performance
grade of the asphalt binder (PQ Corporation 2014).

3.3 Sasobit

Sasobit® is a fine crystalline long chain aliphatic hydrocarbon manufactured by


Sasol Wax in South Africa. It is manufactured from natural gas using the Fisher
Tropsch process of polymerization. Sasobit® is available in three solid forms; a
5-mm diameter prill, 1-mm diameter prill, or 3-mm chips flaked form. Sasobit® is
used to reduce the viscosity of the asphalt binder and improve the flow. The
manufacturer claims that when Sasobit® is in a liquid form, the aggregate moves
more freely in the binder, while when it cools down, it forms an uniform linked
structure in the binder. Also, the manufacturer recommends the dosage rate of the
Sasobit® to be between 0.8 % up to maximum 4.0 % of the binder weight. It can be
introduced into the asphalt binder or directly to the asphalt mixture. Once blended,
the manufacturer states that Sasobit lower the mixing and handling temperatures by
10–30 °C (Sasol Wax 2014). In this study, the 5-mm diameter prill, shown in
Fig. 1b, is used at dosage rate of 2 % of the bitumen weight based on the rec-
ommendation of the supplier.
Rheological Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Performance … 133

4 Experimental Work

In this study, bitumen samples with and without WMA additives were tested in the
Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and rotational viscometer (RV). Samples were
subjected to different ageing processes and tested only at low and intermediate
temperatures. Three replicates were tested as per the experimental matrix shown in
Fig. 2.
Short-term ageing was performed with two different ageing periods; 45 and
85 min. The temperature used with both periods was the standard conventional
ageing temperature (163 °C). The conventional temperature was used to evaluate
the effect of ageing time on the asphalt binder with different WMA technologies.
On the other hand, long-term ageing process was performed by using the pres-
surized ageing vessel (PAV) system on RTFO-aged binders. This system is set on a
pressure of 2.10 MPa inside the vessel for 20 h at 110 °C (AASHTO - T 240 2009).
Using Dynamic Shear Rheometer (from TA Instruments, model HR-1), two
types of tests were conducted. The oscillation strain test measures the rheological
properties of the asphalt binder. Then, the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery test
(MSCR) measures the permanent deformation of asphalt binder under cyclically
repeated shear loading. Both tests were prepared by following the AASHTO
Standards T-315 and TP-70, respectively (AASHTO - T 315 2009; AASHTO - TP
70 2009). The oscillation strain test was performed using the strain controlled
feature at 12 % strain for the unaged binder, 10 % strain for RTFO aged binder, and
1 % for PAV aged binder. The test was performed using two plates’ sizes; 25-mm
with 1-mm gap for unaged and RTFO aged binder, and 8-mm with 2-mm gap for
the PAV aged binder (Zelelew et al. 2013). Three replicate samples were tested
using different ageing processes. The bitumen was aged for 45 min with the RTFO
ageing, aged for 85 min with the RTFO ageing, and aged for 20 h with PAV
system. The test was conducted at PG grade temperatures to assess the performance
grading of asphalt binders based on AASHTO M-320 (AASHTO - M 320 2009).
Modified PG 76-22 binders were tested at 76 °C for rutting factor and at 31 °C for
fatigue factor, while unmodified 60/70 pen binders were tested at 64 °C for rutting
factor and at 25 °C for fatigue factor. The frequency used in the test was 1.59 Hz
(10 rad/s).

PG 76-22 & 60/70 Pen

Original Advera Sasobit

RTFO RTFO
Unaged (45min) (85min) PAV

Rheology, Rheology, Rheology,


Rheology
MSCR, RV MSCR MSCR

Fig. 2 Experimental matrix for modified and unmodified binder mixed with WMA additives
134 M. Sadeq et al.

MSCR test was performed using DSR at two different stress levels, 0.1 and
3.2 kPa. The stress was applied on the sample for 1.0 s and then released for 9.0 s
for relaxation. AASHTO - TP 70 (2009) assigned the MSCR test for the RTFO
residue. However, in this study, the test was executed on short-term aged and
unaged samples to consider the effect of the ageing on the bitumen with different
WMA Additives (Arega et al. 2013).
Viscosity measurements were made by using two methods. The first one was by
applying different rotational speeds on the spindle at constant temperature, and then
by applying the same rotational speed at different temperatures. The first analysis
was conducted to check if adding WMA additives would affect the Newtonian
behaviours of asphalt binder. The viscosity was measured at 20, 40, 60, 80, and
100 rpm at 135 °C. While the second measurement was performed to predict the
mixing and compaction temperature for each binder type with different WMA
additives (Kim et al. 2010).

5 Results and Discussion

5.1 Strain Oscillation Test Results

The rutting factors (G*/sin(δ)) and fatigue factors (G* · sin(δ)) were calculated
based on the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) measurements and the results are
presented in Figs. 3 and 4.
It can be noticed from the results that the trends of both binder types are similar.
Adding Sasobit® to both binders leads to higher complex modulus (G*) and lower
phase angle (δ). The complex modulus (G*) increased with ageing but the phase
angle (δ) did not. This increment led the binder to have a higher rutting factor (G*/
sin(δ)). Rutting factor of the binder after adding Sasobit® increased at the test
temperature (76 °C) which showed that the binder with Sasobit® can pass the
performance grade specification of PG 82. Similarly with 60/70 Pen when adding
Sasobit®, the binder can pass the performance grade specification of PG 70.

(a) (b)
5.0 5.0
G* / sin( ) (kPa)

G* / sin( ) (kPa)

4.0 4.0
3.0 3.0
2.0 2.0
1.0 1.0
0.0 0.0
Unaged RTFO 45 min RTFO 85 min Unaged RTFO 45 min RTFO 85 min
Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

Fig. 3 Rutting factor (G*/sin(δ)) for a modified PG 76-22 binder at 76 °C and b unmodified 60/70
Pen binder at 64 °C mixed with WMA additives at different ageing processes
Rheological Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Performance … 135

(a) 6000 (b) 6000


5000

G*.sin( ) (kPa)
G*.sin( ) (kPa)

5000
4000 4000
3000 3000
2000 2000
1000 1000
0 0
Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

Fig. 4 Fatigue Factor (G* · sin(δ)) for a modified PG 76-22 binder at 31 °C and b unmodified
60/70 Pen binder at 25 °C with different WMA additives and aged by PAV system for long-term
ageing

The effect of adding Advera® to both asphalt binder types was insignificant. The
complex modulus and phase angle values remained almost constant before and after
adding 5 % of Advera®. Rutting factor remained the same at the early stages of the
binder, but it showed a slight difference after full short-term ageing. It is also
noticeable when testing the binder at lower temperature to check the fatigue factor
while Advera® is slightly affecting the asphalt binder compared to Sasobit®.

5.2 Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) Test Results

The MSCR test was performed on RTFO aged binders in order to explore the
rutting resistance of the asphalt binder at early stages. Using the MSCR test on an
original binder was meant to show the effect of WMA additives on the binder
performance before and after the construction. Figure 5 shows the percentage of
recovery (R) and non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) at both stress levels and in
different ageing processes for each modified bitumen.
It can be noticed from Fig. 5a that the difference in percentage of recovery at
0.1 kPa stress level changed slightly with different ageing and WMA additives.
Comparison between binders at a low-stress level is insufficient. However, in the
case of high-stress level (3.2 kPa), the percent of recovery is getting higher with
more ageing. After complete short-term ageing, Advera® and Sasobit® showed
roughly similar percentage of recovery to the unaged binder. Results showed that
mixing WMA additives with asphalt binders would perform similarly against rut-
ting after the binder fully aged. Equally, the non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr)
values were almost identical after the complete short-term ageing. Experiments on
unmodified 60/70 Pen binder shown in Fig. 6 indicate that the effect of Sasobit® on
percentage of recovery and non-recoverable creep compliance was more sufficient
than the modified binder. Sasobit® provides the binder more percent recovery
which was not presented in the case of original binder. The effect of Sasobit® on
the percentage of recovery appears in both high and low-stress levels. On the other
hand, adding Advera® to the 60/70 Pen did not improve the performance of the
136 M. Sadeq et al.

100 Pa 3200 Pa
(a) 100 (b) 100
80 80

R3.2 (%)
R0.1 (%)

60 60
40 40
20 20
0 0
Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min) Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min)

Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

100 Pa 3200 Pa
(c) 0.40 (d) 4.00

Jnr3.2 (kPa-1)
Jnr0.1 (kPa-1)

0.30 3.00
0.20 2.00
0.10 1.00
0.00 0.00
Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min) Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min)

Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

Fig. 5 MSCR results for modified PG 76-22 binder mixed with WMA additives at different
ageing processes: a R0.1 (%); b R3.2 (%); c Jnr0.1 (kPa-1); d Jnr3.2(kPa-1)

binder, inversely, it lowered the recovery over complete short-term ageing. In


addition, adding Sasobit® significantly lowered the unrecovered creep compliance
of asphalt binder 60/70 Pen over ageing at both stress levels, while Advera® effect
was considered to be very little.

(a) 25 (b) 2.50


100 Pa 3200 Pa
20 2.00
R0.1 (%)

R3.2 (%)

15 1.50
10 1.00
5 0.50
0 0.00
Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min) Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min)

Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

(c) 10 (d) 10
100 Pa 3200 Pa
8 8
Jmr0.1 (kPa-1)

Jnr3.2 (kPa-1)

6 6
4 4
2 2
0 0
Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min) Unaged RTFO (45 min) RTFO (85 min)
Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

Fig. 6 MSCR results for unmodified 60/70 Pen binder mixed with WMA additives at different
ageing processes: a R0.1 (%); b R3.2 (%); c Jnr0.1 (kPa-1); d Jnr3.2(kPa-1)
Rheological Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Performance … 137

(a)
Viscosity (Pa.s) 2.5 (b) 2.5

Viscosity (Pa.s)
2.0 2.0
Original
2% Sasobit
1.5 1.5 5% Advera

1.0 Original 1.0


2% Sasobit
0.5 5% Advera 0.5
0.0 0.0
20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100
Speed (rpm) Speed (rpm)

Fig. 7 Viscosity measurement at different rotational speed for a modified PG 76-22 asphalt binder
and b unmodified 60/70 Pen asphalt binder mixed with WMA additives

(a) PG 76-22 (b) 60/70 Pen


2.5 Viscosity (Pa.s) 0.6
Viscosity (Pa.s)

2.0 0.5
1.5 0.4
0.3
1.0 0.2
0.5 0.1
0.0 0.0
@135°C @165°C @135°C @165°C
Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera Original 2% Sasobit 5% Advera

Fig. 8 Viscosity measurements for a PG 76-22 b 60/70 Pen asphalt binders mixed with WMA
additives

5.3 Viscosity Measurements

Asphalt binders were tested using the Rotational Viscometer at 135 °C with dif-
ferent WMA additives using different rotational speeds (20, 40, 60, 80 and
100 rpm). As shown in Fig. 7, it can be noticed that asphalt binders kept the
Newtonian behaviour with various WMA additives.
However, adding WMA additives had different effects on asphalt binders in
terms of viscosity (Fig. 8). The addition of Sasobit® to modified PG 76-22 binder
had higher effect than adding Advera®. Sasobit® lowered the viscosity of the
asphalt binder at mixing and compaction temperatures. Contrariwise, Adding
Advera® had minor reduction in viscosity in both temperatures (135 and 165 °C).

6 Summary of Findings

This study was conducted to evaluate the properties of asphalt binders incorporating
warm-mix asphalt (WMA) additives under different ageing processes. These
additives are used in order to reduce mixture preparation temperature and achieve
138 M. Sadeq et al.

greener construction. Temperature reduction helps in lowering the fuel consump-


tion in asphalt production plants’ and reducing smoke emissions that increase the
efficiency of the construction practice. Contractors in the State of Qatar are using
unmodified 60/70 Pen binder in constructing the local roads and lower layers of
asphalt pavements. Local companies in Qatar modify the asphalt binder with
polymers in order to produce modified PG 76-22 binder. Modified binder is used in
constructing the first layers in asphalt pavements in Qatar in order to offer resistance
for rutting and fatigue cracking. In this study, PG 76-22 and 60/70 Pen binders were
tested with two WMA additives: Sasobit® and Advera® to evaluate rheological
properties of asphalt binders. Sasobit® increased the rutting factor and enhanced
the PG grade of the binder by one unit (6 °C in PG grading) when added at 2 % of
the weight of asphalt binder. This stiffness increment also affected the fatigue
resistance factor, which increases the possibility of having fatigue cracking at low
temperature. Sasobit® gained asphalt binder stiffness in all ageing processes. Also,
the viscosity is reduced with using Sasobit® at the conventional mixing and
compaction temperatures.
Advera®, mixed at dosage rate of 5 % of binder weight, has limited effect on
asphalt binder. It had a minor influence on the performance of bitumen against
rutting resistance. However, Advera increased the potential of fatigue cracking at
low temperature.
Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) test examined the viscoelastic
behaviour of asphalt binder before and after adding WMA additives. Modified PG
76-22 asphalt binder mixed with Sasobit® performed similarly to original binder
after full short-term ageing. Results indicate that Sasobit® would affect the fresh
asphalt binder only in lowering the mixing and compaction temperatures, but would
perform the same as original binder against rutting. However, when Sasobit® was
mixed with unmodified 60/70 pen binder, it increased the potential of recovering
the strain eight times higher than the original binder. Consequently, Sasobit®
decreased the non-recoverable creep compliance which would lead to lower rutting
of asphalt pavement. Advera® effect on permanent deformation of modified and
unmodified asphalt binder was insignificant and ignorable.
Viscosity measurements showed that the valuable reduction in viscosity would
occur while mixing Sasobit® with modified or unmodified asphalt binder while the
effect of Advera® was negligible with both binders.

7 Future Work

This study will be continued to work on evaluating the fatigue cracking resistance
of warm-mix asphalt. In addition, climate of Qatar will be simulated using the
weathering machine to study the effect of ageing on WMA.
Rheological Evaluation of Short- and Long-Term Performance … 139

Acknowledgments This work was made possible by the NPRP award [NPRP 5-506-2-203] from
the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein
are solely the responsibility of the authors.

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